Pneumatic ticket distributing system



Dec. 4,1934. L, N HAMPTON ET AL 1,982,805

PNEUMATIC TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed June 1, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet l i/0 GDP/CHA/PD A T TORNE Y Dec. 4, 1 1934. N. HAMPTON ET AL PNEUMATIC TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1935 FIG. 2

L /v. HA MP TON HA RD /N l/EN TORS ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1934.

PNEUMATIC TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed June 1, 1933 G Sheets-Sheet 3 I 95 90 as MP 85 L. N. HA MP TON lNl/E/VTORS R W. DA V/ S C.D./?/CHARD ATTORNEY L. NTHAMPTON ET AL 1,982,805

Dec. 4, 1934. N. HAMPTON ET AL 3 3 PNEUMATIC TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM Filed June 1, 1935 6 SheetsSheet 4 J ,12/ 00 I I ,r= I z ,9 24 I K (Q, 60 /20 s 1., 57 FIG. 4 /2 I I 70 72 7/ 4o 56 a? FIG. 5

/Nl ENTOR$.- LN. HAMPTON R. H. DA V/S C. DJQ/CHARD Dec. 4, 1934. N. HAMPTON ET AL 1,982,805

PNEUMATIC TICKET DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM '6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 1, 1933 Ill LN. HAMPTON M/l EN TOPS; R. W. DA V/S C. D. R/CHARD By flac %ML( ATTORNEY b sure which was one of the causes of many tickets mechanism and that it was impractical or im- "'15 I nating in a casing which thus forms a ticket I dles supported by the casing are provided for Patented Dec. 4, 1.934

ICKET DISTRIBUTING" SYSTEM be Leon N. Hampton and Roy W. Davis, New York,

and Charles D. Richard, West New Brighton, N. Y., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y.,.a corporation of New York 7 Application June 1, 1933, Serial No. 673,884

7 Claims. (01. 302-2) PNEUMATIC 'r each converging toward the engaged point of the rollers for guiding the tickets therebetween. Means is provided in the tube section for closing the ticket guiding tubes independently of each other during the probing for tickets, with adjustable means in the exhaust tubing adjacent the ticket housing for controlling the current of air in the ticket guiding tubes in order to control the speed of the tickets in these tubes in relation to the surface speed of the'rollers, such means being operable for generating air impulses in the ticket guiding tube to assure the arrival of the ticket in the valve receiving chamber. I Y

-Other features and advantages of the'invention will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had tothe following drawings in whichi Fig.=1.is a front elevation of the device show- This invention relates to pneumatic ticket distributing systems and more specifically toa type of rotary receiving valve used in such systems.

"Applicants discovered that in such systems it frequently happens that a large number of tickets pass between the rollers at the same instant andare therefore subjected tohigh pres- -being destroyed. Applicants further discovered that tickets were also destroyed clue 'to the fact. that in prior valves the two rollers are positively connected to each other by a common gear possible to machine and maintain the two rollers with equal diameter and consequently equal surface speed, which resulted in the undue wearing of these rollers, the rapid wearing of the u gear mechanism, the unnecessary constant loading of the motorand' the destroying of tickets ing portions. of the casing in section;

due to the. differential actions of the rollers. on Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof; the tickets and the high pressure to which these Fig.3 is a side elevation showing the casing and a number of operating parts in section;

Fig. 4-is a top assembly View; Fig. 5 is a central sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a partial view of the casing showing a number of operating parts in sectionp Fig. '7 is a modification of the roller mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a partial View of the casing in section showing a modification of the ticket sending tube shown in Fig. 1; A

Fig. 9 is a side view thereof showing the air current controlling mechanism in the exhaust tubing; l

Fig. 10 is a detail view of .the valveused in connection with such mechanism; and

Fig. 11 is a partial sectional view ofthe modified ticket tube section and associated valves.

In Figs. 1, 2 and BpfthedrawingslO is a casing combined as to form aticketreceivingchamber and for housing a pair of parallelly disposed rollers R1 and R2, this casing being. provided with an open side adjacent the, front tickets are subjected at that instant. V The object of this invention is to improve the. construction and operation of such a valve.

According to this invention the tickets are propelled by air currents in a plurality of ticket sending tubes of rectangular cross-section termidriving receiving chamber and a housing for a pair of rotating cylinders or rollers between which the tickets are delivered mechanically into a chute provided at the lower end of the casing. Spinmounting the rollers and one of these spindles forms with a shaft an eccentric to provide means for permitting the axial displacement of one of these rollers upon the passing of one or a plurality of tickets between the rollers. Adjustable means is provided for imparting a rotary movement to the eccentric spindle for yieldably holding the rollers in frictional engagement with each other and for securing the proper pressure contact between these rollersin' order toavoid the damaging of the tickets upon their passing between the rollers. Means formed with the'housing is provided for mounting a motor for actuating the rollers through the operation of a gearing mechanism with detachable means for securing the motor on the housing while permitting to easily and quicklydisconnect the motor from its support for inspection and repairs. Means is provided in the housing for mounting a tubesection which serves for attachin'g' the receiving ends of the ticket guiding tubes 12 of transparent material and an opening or chute CH at its lower end for the, delivery of the tickets in a manner which will be hereinafter described in detail.

In Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 7, 13 indicates a casing portion which is mounted on the main casing a spindle 16 which isse'cu'rely held thereon at j V ends of the rollers which is covered by a sheet 1 10 and secured thereon by a number of screws such as 14. On this casing portion is mounted thereon by a nut 23. -24 extends in a radial direction and carries a tion for receiving a sleeve 28 provided at each end with similarly shaped flange pieces -29 and 30 having cone surfaces and a rubber cylinder CL1 preferably vulcanized on the sleeve 28 with the flange pieces 29 and30 to form therewith a homogeneous assembly, the sleeve .28 being held securely on the hub 27 by a thumb screw or knob 31 threadedly engaging the front end of hub 27 for forcing a cone member 32 in abutment against the cone surface of flange piece 30 and thereby the engagement of the cone surface of flange piece 29 with cone surface 33 formed on the hub 27 best seen in Fig. 3.

On the other end of hub 27 which supports roller R2 there is mounted a gear-34 which is engaged by a worm screw 35 shown in Figs.

2 and 7 carried by a vertically disposed shaft 36, this shaft being journaled at its lower end in a ball bearing 37 mounted in a vertical projection'39 formed with casing portion 13 and its other end in a bearing 38 in a casingportion 40 in turn clamped at the upper :endof projection 39 under the action of a screw 41 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. r I

On the upper end of shaft 36-is mounted a helical gear 42 which engages with a helicalgear 43 carried by a shaft 44 journaled at both ends in roller bearings 45, one of them being shown in Fig. 2 and one end o-f-shaft 44 extends outwardly from casing portion 40. and carries the I element L1 of a coupling-device, the element L2 of which is secured to one end of'the armature shaft of a motor 46 provided for rotating the roller R2 as will be hereinafter described in detail. 7

Motor 46 is mounted one base 47 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 formed integrally with the casing portion 13 and is held securely thereon by a clamping device in-the form of two metallic strips 48 and 49 which are hooked to the casing 10 and casing portion 13 by pins 50 and their other ends connected by a link member 51 which carries a screw 52 abutting against the motor 46 for tensioning the strips 48 and 49 and thereby holding the motor firmly in place on the base 47, a pad 53 of yieldable material be- 'ing interposed between the motor and the base 47 for damping the vibrations of the motor.

As shown in Figs.- 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 the idler roller R1 which is mounted on crank pin or spindle 15 is yieldably held against driving roller R2 by a spring 24 having one of its ends hooked to the free end of a lever member 22. This lever is mounted on the outwardly projecting end ofcrank shaft 19 and is secured The other end of spring ,55 for tensioning the spring 24. The tension of spring 24 tends to rotate the crank shaft 19 and the spindle 15 carried thereby for urging with the paper contact pressure the idle roller R1 in frictional engagement with roller R2 while 7 permitting the axial displacement of roller R1 Each of these rollers consists of a hub member 27 having a cylindrical por v toward and away from roller R2 upon the passing of a plurality of tickets between these rollers at the same instant.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 on casing 10 there is mounted a casing portion 57 held securely thereon by a number of screws 58 and on this casing portion is mounted a pair of short tubings 59 and 60 of rectangular crosssection held in spaced relation at both ends by spacer members 61 and 62. The lower ends of tubings 59 and 60 of the ticket tubing section thus formed extend into the casing portion57 in engaged relation with similarly shaped guiding members CMl and 0M2, best seen in Figs. 1 and 8 secured on a plate 85 by a number of screws 88, and converge at their lower ends toward the contacting point of rollers R1 and R2 for guiding the tickets T1 and T2, etc. therebetween to be delivered by the operation of the rollers through the chute CH of casing 10. Toy the spacer member 62 is connected a casting 120 by a number of screws 121 shown in Fig. 1 andv to this casting are attached the ends of the ticket sending tubes 59' and60, which extend as iswell known to ticket sending valves, not shown, placed. at certain operators positions. A gauge of the Bourdon type, for example, supported by the casting 120 as shown in Fig. 3 is provided for indicating the air pressure in the ticket sending tubes and the exhaust tube, the casting 120 being formed with the element 73 of a clamping device, such element cooperating with its companion element 72 for holding an exhaust tubing 71 in spaced relation therewith. i

The lower ends of tubing sections 59 and 60 as well as members GMl and GM2 are provided at their sides with a plurality of apertures 65 and 66 to form an air path toward the lower end ofa bushing 67 best seen in Figs. 1, 5, 8, 9' and 10, apertures 65 and 66 being provided to decrease the air propelling effect at this point and thereby the speed of" the tickets prior to their engagement with the rollers R1 and R2 thus preventing their deformation which would otherwise occur'if permitted to engage these rollers at a too high velocity with respect to the surface speed of the latter.

Bushing 67 threadedly engages the casing portion 57 and has a counterbore for receiving the end of a flexible tubing section 68 having obliquely disposed attaching flange 69 for connecting this tube section with a flange 70 of the air exhaust tube 71 to the other end of which an ordinary air pump, not shown, is connected for generating a continuous current "of air in the ticket sending tubes 59 and 60 and the exhaust tubing 71, and two jack screws resting on the casing portion 57 are provided for supporting the ends of the ticket sending tubes from the casing portion 57.

In bushing 67 as shown in Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 10, there is mounted a valve in the form of a disc 74 carried by a shaft 75 extending from opposite sides of casing portion 57 for mounting a lever arm 76 for manually operating the valve. 115v This lever arm-is provided with a spring pressed pin 77 for engaging a depression in an adjust able arm .79 for locking the lever arm 76 and the valve 74 in adjusted, position. The adjustable arm 791s mounted on a bearing portion 159 formed with the casing portion 5'! and is held securely in adjusted position thereon by a clamping screw 81, and a pin 82 on casing portion 57 cooperates with the abutting lugs 83 and 84 of arm 79 to permit the movement of the valve74 from its full closed position to any point toward its full open position irrespective of the adjustment of arm 79, this independent movement of valve '74 generating air impulses in the ticket sending tubes for a purpose that will be hereinafter described in detail.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 8 the plate 85 which supports the guiding members GMl and GM2 is securely held in adjusted position in casing 10 by a number of screws 86 threadedly engaging inwardly extending reenforced rim 87 formed with the casing portion 57-. This plate has downwardly extending flange portions 85, forming a rectangularly tapered opening engaged by the ticket guiding members GMI and GM2 as above described and on these downward extending flange portions are mounted in opposite sides two oblong-shaped bars 90 and 91 which serve asabutment for two relatively small rollers 92 and 93, respectively. These rollers have reduced end portions loosely engaging bearing portions in side plates 94 and 95, shownin Figs. 3 and 5, each consisting of two outer disposed thin metallic plates MP and MP1 and a felt pad FP.

The plate assemblies 94 and 95 are yieldably held against the ends of the rollers R1 and R2 by' coiled springs 96 and 97 tensioned respectively by thumb screws 98 and 99 threadedly engag ing the flanges of plate 85.

the rollers 92 and 93, the side plates 94 and 95 cooperate with rollers R1 and R2 to prevent any escape of air from their contact points, the path of air being as above specified through the se- Iries of holes 65 and 66 and the space between the sides of the ticket guiding members GMl and GM2 and the adjacent walls of the downward extending portions of plate 85.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9,

ifour ticket tubings 102, 103, 104 and 105 are used and these tubings are connected to a corresponding number of bifurcated guiding members 111, 112, 113 and 114 through a tubing section in the form of a casting 106. This tubing sec- Ttion is provided with valves 107, 108, 109 and arranged to be moved from the open position shown by valves 109 and 110 in Figs. 8 and 11 to the closed position shown by valves 107 and 108 for independently closing either one of their associated ticket tubes 102, 103, 104 and 105 whenever required for the probing of tickets which may be stopped in one of the tubes, while keeping the other ticket tubes and the valve in operation.

In the modification of the motor mounting as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the armature shaft of motor 46 is disposed vertically in coaxially alignment with shaft 36 and these shafts are operatively connected by a coiled spring 115 having e .jone of its ends engaging a bushing 116 keyed to the armature shaft of the motor and the other end of this spring engages a bushing 117 secured on the end of vertical shaft 36, thus avoiding the use of gears 42 and 43 described in connection with the drive used in the valve shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the operation of the valve of this invention as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7, the operation of the motor is effective to rotate the roller R2 mounted on spindle 16 through the gear 43 on The bars 90 and=91 shaft 44 in engagement with gear '42 on shaft 36, the worm- 35 in'engagement with gear 34 mounted on hub 27, the latter forming "partof roller R2. 1

Roller R1 which is mounted on crank'spindle 15 as above described yieldably engages roller R2 due'to the tension of spring 24 tendingto rotate the crank shaft 19. Under this condition a ticket inserted in any one of the tubings 59 and 60 at any oneof the operators sending stations will be propelled in this tubing due'to suction at the extreme end of the exhaust tubing '71, such air path being through tubings 59 and. 60 including the tubing section formed by tubing's59 and 60, the series of holes 65and 66 at the ends of such tubing section, the casing portion 5'7, the valve 74' set to its proper adju'sted position, the exhaust tubing section 68 and exhaust tubing 71. The tickets T, T, etc. eithers-ingly or collectively reaching the contacting point CP of the rollers R1 and R2 are distributed through the rotation of the latter in the direction indicated by the arrow in the chute CH int he bottom of the casing, the proper contact pressure of the rollers on the tickets under any condition beingmaintained by the spring 24, thus preventing the damage of tickets, rollers and their operating mechanism.

Intheoperation of this valve whenever one or a plurality of tickets are stopped in one of the sending tubes 59 and 60', shown in Fig. 2, or 102, 103, 104 and 105 shown in the modification in Fig; 8, the lever 76 isunlatched from the adjustable arm 79 and manually operated an angular distance of substantially 90 for coinpletely opening or closing the exhaust tube 68 in rapidsuccession' and thereby causing air impulses in the ticket sending tubes, this operation tending to rotate said eccentric for yieldably holding said idle roller in frictional engagement with said driven roller, and means adjustable for controlling the effect of the first mentioned means on said eccentric.

2. In a pneumatic ticket receiving valve, a casing, a roller mounted in said casing, a motor, a gear mechanism operatively connecting said motor to said roller, a shaft journaled in said casing, a spindle carried by said shaft in eccentric relation therewith, an idle roller mounted on said spindle, and means tending to impart a turning movement to said shaft for frictionally engaging said idle roller with the first mentioned roller.

3. In a pneumatic ticket receiving va1ve, a casing, a spindle fixedly supported at one end in said casing, a roller mounted on said spindle, a

crank shaft journaled in said casing having a c nve g n e d e din int said asm t 4. In a pneumatic ticket receiving Valve, a ca n a spin le secured on ne end o s id a iIl a crank shaft mounted free on said casing and having a spindle eccentrically formed atone e d th reof, a r l moun d o ach o said spind s rin means acting on sa cran ha fo eldab y hold he oller .on th spi dl o said c nk sh i i t l nga ement ith the r er on ai fixed nd ad u a e mea c in th acti n o sa d sp n m an amoto and a seaing me ha ism fo ope aelv o ne t n n o aid l e s wit said mot r- 7 t c .5- n a pneumatic t ck e eiv n v ve, a easin a Pair of r rs mou t d in aid casing in ir ational en ag d r ation o a o e a tic et ribe u d ng s c io m u d on aid as n havhis one e s o d a ac t the n a d p i t of sa d ro rsr u n the ti ket therebetween, a chute for the ticket in said casing opp si e aid ube s c a vm or mounted on ai ca n mea for op rat ve y on ectin n of said rollers to said motor and an eccentric supporting the other roller and movable for perm tine the ov m t o t s r ll away f m the ge r-ed ol e up n h pas n of, a icket her b tw eh- 6- n a ati ti ket re ivin valv a casing, a pair of rollers for .driving the ticket from s cas a pl ral ty o ti ket tu e havi rd the a ed p t of sa d l rs, an air exhaust tube having one endsecured to said casing, said ticket tubes having at their ends a series of holes forming an air path toward said exhaust tube, .a Pair of plates, one at each end of said rollers, a pair of auxiliary rollers journaled on sai plates and frictionallyv n aein he first men ioned rol ers a p ir o ba s m unted in s id ea n and se v ng as abu ment v r a d ux ia y ll -s, sold bars, said auxilia l ers nd s ld plat s cooperating w h the fi st ment n d rolle s n the series o h les at the e ds o s id tickettubes to form a length portion of the air path towa sa d e hau tu in a mo or a searin m c anis nn c n on o said rol s to said mo r, an e ce ri Ior supportin t e othe ro er an r sili n m an t nd n to rotate said c; nt io or ric io a ly en a in aid rolle s said m an ein adjustabl r nt llin the cont t r su e of sai rollers on h t cket- -7- n a neuma ic tick t rec ivin valve, n c sinsfor ine ati ke e e vin ham er, a pair f irio onaiiy en ed olle s ounted in said housing, a. motor for actuating said rollers for driving the ticket from said casing a plurality o ticket guidin tunes termin in in ai a he vine their end c nv r in t ward t e ngaged point of said rollers, an exhaust tubing having one end secured to said vcasing, said tielget guiding tubes having series of perforati ns on two opposite sides to form an air path L00 leading to said exhaust tubing, a valve, means for adjusting said valve for controlling the air flow in said exhaust tu in a plun r member engaging said casing for holding said valve in said adjusted position and permitting the operat- 1,0,5 ingof said valve independently of said adjusting means upon its release from said casing and manually operable valves for independently stopping the w in veach of said ticket guiding tubes.

no LEON N. HAMPTON. ROY W. DAVIS. CHARLES ,1). RICHARD. 

